There's zaniness afoot in this mystery

The County Seat Theater will open its new season with "No Body To Murder," a whodunit comedy full of zany characters, hilarious stage action and a surprise ending.

"This show is only about an hour long, which is great for our younger audience members, but I guarantee all ages will want it to go on longer," said co-director Joel Soukkala. For a number of years now, County Seat has focused the first show of the season to be appropriate for all ages.

"We try to find shows that will appeal to all ages as well as feature a multigenerational cast."

This show will feature 26 actors from ages 11 to adult. "It is fun to work with a number of actors new to our stage as well as veterans and actors of all ages," said co-director Jenn Soukkala.

"Each member of this production has been so eager to put in the work to make the production a fun time for the audience. It's great to see so many people have an outlet for their passion to create."

Bad news in the form of severe thunderstorms and an escaped convict threatens the guests at the Come On Inn of Nova Scotia. By the end of the day, gung-ho aerobics instructor Billie Body (Beth Schroeder) is mysteriously murdered during a power outage. Was it the cook's lemonade that poisoned her, or did someone else have a hand in Body's death? Who would have the audacity to commit murder under so many noses? Everyone has a hidden motive to want Billie Body dead. After all, she does have abs "to die for."

The County Seat Theater Company will present performances at 7 p.m. Jan. 26-27 and Feb. 1-2; and at 2 p.m. Jan. 28 and Feb. 3-4 at the Encore Performing Arts Center in Cloquet. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 218-878-0071 or online at http://www.countyseattheater.com.

This is the first show of the County Seat season, so you can still buy season passes and enjoy productions all year-round. There is also a special family rate. The County Seat Theater Company offers a full season of local performances, as well as youth productions and musical acts, and an art gallery featuring work by local artists.

The art show during the run of this production features the works of the late Rea Ching Mingeva, who taught at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and Mankato State University in

Minnesota.